Johannesburg – In a move that could reshape South Africa’s biggest city, 75‑year‑old Helen Zille, former Cape Town mayor and head of the Democratic Alliance (DA), announced her candidacy for mayor of Johannesburg. Zille, affectionately called “gogo” (grandmother) by supporters, launched her campaign with a series of viral videos highlighting the city’s crumbling infrastructure, from flooded streets to pothole‑filled roads.
Local business owners rally behind Zille
Rashied Najam, who runs a car‑repair shop in the city’s western suburbs, said Zille’s personal visit to his shop convinced him to abandon his lifelong support for the African National Congress (ANC). “Here comes a lady that’s my total opposition, Helen Zille, and she meets me and she shakes my hand and hugs me,” Najam recalled. He added that Zille listened to his complaints about a leaking sewage plant that the municipality has ignored for years.
Najam’s shift reflects a broader frustration among small‑business owners who blame the ANC‑led coalition for chronic power cuts, water shortages and the rise of illegal “hijacked” buildings where gangs charge occupants for staying.
ANC acknowledges service‑delivery challenges
Loyiso Masuku, the ANC’s Johannesburg regional chairperson and potential mayoral contender, admitted the city’s rapid growth has strained its infrastructure. “We’re going to be proactive in terms of how we deal with our infrastructure challenges,” Masuku said, adding that residents “do deserve better services.”
Racial dynamics and voter loyalty
The race also tests deep‑seated racial divisions. Johannesburg, a majority‑Black city, has long identified the ANC with Black liberation. Political analyst William Gumede warned that many voters still link the party to their identity, saying, “We don’t yet have enough people who have moved from a voting point of view from the apartheid racial identity barrier… to a new era where they vote based on competition.” He added that Johannesburg could become the tipping point for crossing that barrier.
Jacob Seane, an 83‑year‑old Soweto resident, remains steadfast in his support for the ANC, noting he has voted for the party since the first multiracial elections in 1994.
Polls show a tight contest
Zille cited internal DA polling that places her at roughly 40 % support. An independent Ipsos poll released in September showed the ANC at 31 % and the DA at 28 %. No party is expected to win an outright majority, meaning coalition negotiations will likely determine the city’s leadership.
A DA victory would hand the party control of South Africa’s economic hub and could provide momentum ahead of the national elections scheduled for 2029.
Zille’s priorities
In an interview, Zille emphasized basic governance reforms: “Getting functional budgeting and allocation working, getting rid of corruption, and focusing on the basics is going to be the big challenge of Joburg.” She expressed hope that voters would look beyond historic loyalties: “I just hope that when people get into that ballot box … the tug of the past isn’t too strong.”
The mayoral race is set to intensify in the coming weeks as candidates tour neighborhoods, meet with community leaders and outline plans to address the city’s infrastructure woes.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
